2022/07/22 Special Edition. Our new home.

A tour of our new home, 29 July 2022

From the street. Our garage in on the right Part of our balcony can be seen. Our front door is on the right. The other garages are for the other condo units.

Our Front Door. Welcome and come in.

Enter the front door into our entrance hall. The door leads to a coat rack and storage that goes under the stairs. Upstairs leads to all our living area. Hi, Dakota. The window on the landing looks down on our driveway and the street.

The door open on the right leads to our garage. Also a new edition is our 2019 Camry Hybrid. 

Inside of our garage. Our truck was too tall so we got a new car that fits just fine. 

Dakota waits at the top of the second set of stairs that lead to the living room at the top. Behind the living room is the dining room. Back left is the door to the balcony.

From the Dining room looking over the living room at the fireplace. The windows on the left look out over the front door porch.

From the Dining room looking into the kitchen. The door on the left is the laundry room and the one on the right is the pantry. Since our dining room furniture will not be delivered until Saturday we take our meals at the kitchen hi-top counter.

View into the laundry room and the pantry. We had quite the struggle getting our washer and dryer scheduled for delivery. 

Carol checking out our new washing machine. Just making sure it's actually working since it's so quiet. 

Looking out our balcony door and views from our balcony. 

Standing between the living room and dining room looking down the hall to the utility room, linen closet, guest room, bathroom and master suite on the end. 

First two doors on the left is the utility room and linen closet. 

First door on the right is the guest room. Currently empty, but the walk-in closet on the right is full of boxes and stuff we still need to go through. Thankful for all the storage space.  

The last door on the left is the guest bathroom, across the entry of the bathroom is an alcove with shelves. 

The room at the end of the hall is our master bedroom. The queen size bed is for the guest room. We are still picking out our king size bed for the master bedroom.  The first door on the right is the bathroom. The second door is the walk-in closet. 

Looking into the master bath. Clockwise from left, double sink, toilet, shower and soaking bathtub.

Clockwise from top left, double sink, toilet, shower and bathtub.

Update July 30th. Our dining room set arrived and we are enjoying our first meal in the dining room.  

July 31st. Carol and Dakota enjoying the balcony. The weather was nice. Shortly, Carol is going down for a chat with our new neighbors in the last unit, Keith and Carol who have lived here since 2008. 

20210926 - 1015 Near Kristen & Dave, PA

 

Sun Valley RV Campground, Narvon, PA, 29 September 2021

Our home and rental car (Our truck was getting needed repairs). A nice campground only ten minutes from Kristen's place so visiting is a breeze.

 Near Kristen's house Mohnton, PA 04-11 September 2021

Selecting plants for Kristen's new Birthday garden. This could take awhile to sort out for size, bloom color and bloom season plus see if we can incorporate seed and/or berry production. 

Preparing the site takes more work to remove all the grass and then planting. We had sunny but cool weather which was good because it took almost an entire week to get this garden established. 

Winterberry came with a large bunch of berries. The butterfly bush (front) will be good for butterflies and hummingbirds. The blue pot is a well established chocolate mint.

Time to mulch and we are done. 

We found a "rare" red-backed salamander under a rock next to Kristen and Dave's front porch. Such a tiny thing under a very big rock. We returned it to its spot under the rock. 

20210910 - 0917 Gatlinburg, TN

Gatlinburg, TN, 10-17 September  2021

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, 11 September 2021

Did someone lose their sunglasses? If so, we left them on top of the sign. 

You never know what you might see down below. One of the most popular hikes in Pigeon Forge due to the scenic views of the Smokey Mountains that are easily accessible to hikers of all ages.

I see you, David. Do you see me? Exploring the decades old cabins.

Looking around The Ephraim Bales Place. The picture is of 
Minerva "Nervy" Bales who had 9 children. The entire family lived in a "dog-trot" cabin which is two cabins placed side by side with a space between and a common roof connecting them together. She died around 1926. The Bales family lived here from about 1890 to about 1930 when the government purchased the land. The original corn crib, barn and pig pen remain standing as well. 

Looking at an old mill at Alfred Reagan Place and the race from the Roaring Fork creek which provided the water to run the mill. The grist mill was a turbine or "tub" mill, the most common type found in the mountains. Water was channeled to strike a primitive horizontal wooden turbine wheel (middle photo), which turned and provided direct drive power to the mill stones. 

Tourist stop at Ely's Mill.  They have and do everything under the sun. Local crafts, antiques and seasonal honey, rental cabins, small weddings and photo shoots.

Day Trip up Newfound Gap Road (US 441), 11 September 2021

Views along the Newfound Gap Road. As you can see, the area is strewn with pebbles, stones, rock and boulders. Since most of the original settlers were farmers, ranchers and craftsmen. There is a saying that a handful of dirt is put between two rocks so the corn could be planted. 

Dakota wanted to try her luck walking the creek. But moving water always makes her nervous. 

Everyone else along the creek. Tori is very reluctant to go into the water. Her eye sight is bad and her equilibrium is failing. What kind of nut is this? We are pretty sure it is a Pignut Hickory Nut.

  

President Theodore Roosevelt dedicated the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on September 2, 1940. This Monument honors The Rockefeller Family's generous donations. 

The inscription reads, “For the permanent enjoyment of the people. This park was given one-half by the peoples and states of North Carolina and Tennessee and by the United States of America, and one-half in memory of Laura Spelman Rockefeller by the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial, founded by her husband John D. Rockefeller.”

Newfound Gap Sights and Trails. This is an access point for the Appalachian Trail. 

Mingus Mill. The mill was completed in 1886, and was one of the most advanced mills in the Smoky Mountains due to its use of a steel turbine design. Mingus Mill was funded by Dr. John Mingus, and designed and built by Sion Thomas Early.

The Glades Arts and Crafts Community, 13 September 2021

Shopping day. The Glades Arts and Crafts Community is comprised of an eight-mile country road loop where over 100 artists and craftsmen parade their trades. What did we buy? A wooden Spatula for pulling a pizza from the oven and a fancy wooden pull knob for a ceiling fan. Any times we buy something we have to get rid of something in the trailer. 

That wraps up our trip to Gatlinburg, TN. 

20210815 - 0819 Potosi, MO - 20210903-0910 Asheville , Candler, NC

Potosi, Missouri, 15 August - 19 August 2021

Twin Eagle Lake Estates & Hideout - 16 August 2021

We have visited this campground before and found it quiet and conveniently located near Bob's cousin. The dogs like to look at the lake but we just can't convince them to even wade in to cool off during these "dog days of summer". The only thing that would make this a nice place to stay would be some additional trees growing up.

Visit with Loretta - 17 August 2021

We heard many stories from Loretta before getting down to business. Bob's sister, Betty was in town so our timing was good. 

St. Peters, Missouri, 19 August - 22 August 2021

Family Picnic - 17 August 2021

Staying at the 370 Lakeside Park in St. Peters was a good place for a big family gathering. Lots of food, entertaining kids and a well attended wiffleball game.

Prelude to the wiffleball game was a short Nerf football warmup.

Asheville, N. Carolina, 03 September - 10 September 2021

North Carolina Arboretum - 7 September 2021

Getting our gardening fix, we found the arboretum to be relaxing and a good way to get our steps in while having fun. Contained in 65 acres of one of the most diverse and beautiful natural settings, the arboretum contains cultivated gardens, cultural heritage, water features and special exhibits.

Our favorite location was the Bonsai area. Hundreds of plants in varying stages and ages. We do miss our bonsai trees.

Summer flowers are mostly found just in the spots we want to sit and relax. In the shade. We were very lucky to find rocking chairs. Footstools would have made it perfect. But the wildflowers sprinkled throughout the gardens were a delight.

On our walk around the back of the main building, this hawk flew onto a branch with a small snack in his talons. He did not seem to be too concerned with our presence so this must be a routine and a common feeding location. Just for the kids and kids at heart there is an exhibit with a town in the Rocky Cove Railroad.

The grounds offer several quirky exhibits of carved wood, patchwork flower quilts and even wings of flight. Additionally, there were eight stations celebrating the legacy of Frederick Law Olmstead to learn about his influence in design principles around the country. Famous for his first park design in Central Park and his final plans on the Biltmore Estate, Olmstead's outdoor exhibits scattered across the country include parks, greenways, campuses and estates. 

Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville - 8 September 2021

In 1904, Dr. Robert Carole came to Asheville from Duke University to build Highland Hospital. In 1927 Homewood was built as Dr. Carole's private home. The English Stone Manor design was influenced heavily by Dr. Carole's time at Duke University.

Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville is the site of the city's historic public square. It has been a focal point of central downtown since the city's creation in 1797. The Art deco City hall on the right and the County building on the left front the Roger McGuire Green overlooking a main stage, three water features and original art by local artists. This area is a wonderful venue for festivals and concerts. Additionally, the Urban Trail, a self-guided 1.7 mile walking tour through the streets of Asheville, tells the history  of the city through arts installations.

Basilica of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr, while not technically a part of the walking tour can be seen along with the other historic buildings. 

Painted murals, flat iron building, eclectic shopping and unique eateries are all available on the tour. 

Basilica of Saint Lawrence - 9 September 2021

The front entrance was having some repairs and painting done so we had to access the interior through a side door

The uniqueness of St. Lawrence Basilica is obvious both inside and out but best seen inside. First, the dome is not a standard form. It stretches 82' by 58' and is considered one of the larger free standing elliptical dome in North America. The only church designed and built by the renowned Spanish architect and builder, Rafael Guastavino, who had arrived in Asheville in the late 1800s to work on the Biltmore House. The entire building is made of a variety of tiles and other masonry without the use of wood. Guastavino's patented method of tile building is now found in a thousand buildings in this country, including Grant's tomb, the Great Hall at Ellis Island, Grand Central Station, Carnegie Hall and the Chapel at West Point. His work is found in North Carolina in the Duke Chapel in Durham, the Jefferson Standard Building in Greensboro, the Motley Memorial in Chapel Hill and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wilmington.    

The patron, Lawrence, was a deacon in the 3rd century and a faithful disciple of Pope St. Sixtus, who was martyred three days after the Pope. The statue of St. Lawrence shows him holding a feather pen as the patron saint of schoolchildren and librarians. Then St. Patrick and St. Rose of Lima. Finally, St. Cecilia, the patron of music. 

Behind the altar, the wall is called a reredos, an ornamental screen covering the wall. It has been executed in polychrome terra cotta and bears life size reliefs of the four evangelists, Matthew and Mark on the left; Luke and John on the right. The tableau depicting the crucifixion was hand carved in the 17th century in walnut showing Mary, the Mother of Christ and John, the beloved disciple. 

Blue Ridge Parkway, Newland, NC. The Linn Cove Viaduct is a 1,243 foot long, concrete segmental bridge which snakes around Grandfather Mountain. Construction started in 1979 and finished in 1987. Parkway planners designed the viaduct to protect the fragile habitat of the mountain and was the last portion of the Parkway to be completed. A marvelous feat of engineering, the Viaduct contains 153 segments weighing 50 tons each and is designated a National Civil Engineering Landmark. The exact route location created controversy over environmental concerns regarding how to build a road at 4,100 feet elevation without damaging on of the world's oldest mountains? The developed bridge design and construction method resulted in the most complicated concrete bridge ever built, snaking around boulder-strewn Linn Cove in a sweeping S-curve.  

Blue Ridge Parkway, Yonahlossee Overlook is located near the Linn Cove Viaduct which can be viewed from the trail south of the parking lot.