A series of essays.....
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| FAIRY-TALE VERSION OF THE BILTMORE ESTATE AND GARDENS ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA ~ 2017 |
.....as seen through my eyes!
By: Jacqueline E. Hughes
Upon returning from a long weekend in Western North Carolina, my reflection of time in this beloved space was duly noted in both words and pictures taken.
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| VIEW FROM THE TOP OF OUR PROPERTY |
Our purpose for being there was multi-layered. You see, we are landowners in WNC and if you travel on I-26, brushing the well known town of Asheville with your right shoulder and then take a westbound turn onto I-40 exiting at SR-19 near Waynesville and Maggie Valley, you would be very near our small mountain called Cansadie Top. More precisely, you would be in the small, unincorporated community in Haywood County, North Carolina known as Iron Duff.
Our small, nearly three acre parcel of pines, rhododendrons, cedar trees, and low brush, merely scratches the side of Cansadie Top mountain and faces north towards the valley below and the winding Pigeon River then out to the mountains in the distance. It is a breathtaking spot. It’s where we’d hoped to spend many years together after retirement.
This picturesque portion of WNC is snuggled within the heart of the Pisgah National Forest and just a mountain or two away from the Eastern Cherokee Reservation with its casino, several entrances to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and winter skiing fun ⛷ at the Cataloochee Ski Area just north of Maggie Valley. I love saying the word Pisgah and Chickasaw and Cataloochee. It intrigues me how the Native American names roll so nicely inside the mouth; feel so natural rolling off of the tongue and, eventually, burst forth from between the lips and out into the atmosphere like ancient wisdom to my ears...
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| THE DRAGON COMES ALIVE! |
As we gently rolled down Cansadie Top and into the valley heading westbound, I couldn’t help but notice what looked like smoky dragon’s breath emanating from the mountaintop in the distance. It was as if a tornado were whipping across the ridge dispersing tons of swirling snow in order to awaken the beast. In essence, it was. It only took us a few moments to realize that the Cataloochee Ski Area must have been making snow for its ski runs high above us. The dragon huffed and puffed its sultry breath all along the deep-blue ridge as if letting everyone know to pack-up their skies and poles; it was time to travel along the manicured pathways and slopes of its cold, rigid spine and ski your way downward into the valley below.
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| DAN IS PLACING A STONE MARKER AT THE SPOT |
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| MY FAVORITE TREE JUST BELOW OUR PROPERTY LINE |
Sadly, while standing along the side of our own little mountain, moments before sighting our dragon in the distance, we employed a ritual that, if successful, will close this chapter of our hopes and dreams of residing along a mountainside in Western North Carolina. Our plans of building a Hearthstone log cabin on this site dissolved within a single dragon’s breath back in 2008 when the economic world went crazy and abrupt changes in our lives had to be implemented. Since 2006, when we purchased this ‘heavenly spot’ in the Pisgah Forest near the Blue Ridge Parkway, we imagined snowy Christmas celebrations and family get-togethers for years to come. Life has an interesting way of taking you down so many unimagined pathways with forks in the road at every turn. I really do believe that adapting to these various changes along the way is what makes us stronger, better individuals, and, eventually, happier souls.
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| IN FRONT OF OUR 'KATYDID' COTTAGE |
This trip up to WNC found us snug and warm in our own little cabin up in the mountains near Candler and a stone’s throw away from the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. All dressed up for the Christmas 🎄 Holidays, the Biltmore Mansion did not disappoint us as we experienced over fifty-five beautifully decorated trees nestled among the splendid nooks and crannies of this magnificent estate home. Having visited Biltmore several occasions before during the warmer, summer months, this was the first time we were given an opportunity to see almost every room of this sprawling mansion. We crawled up flights of stairs to the guest quarters and then were swallowed-up and plunged into the bowels of the lower floors that included the kitchen, indoor pool, bowling alley, and the servant’s quarters.....among others.
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| BILTMORE ESTATE ON A BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS EVE DAY BUILT BY GEORGE AND EDITH VANDERBILT ~OPENED ON CHRISTMAS EVE, 1895~ |
Even though the weather was cold and dipped into the low thirties, not a wisp of snow graced our presence as we found our car and drove over to the Biltmore Estate Winery and Antler Hill Village for a wine tasting. Having fallen in love with Biltmore wines years ago, it is always such a pleasure to taste their various blends and this trip did not disappoint us. The limited release of their crisp, semi-sweet white and full-bodied red under the label of ‘Christmas at BILTMORE’ were phenomenal and several bottles now reside in our wine rack at home for future enjoyment.
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| CONSERVATORY ALL DECKED OUT |
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| DECORATIONS UP CLOSE |
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| LIBRARY DOOR WITH WREATH |
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| A TREE IN THE MIRROR IN EDITH VANDERBILT'S BEDROOM |
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| BANQUET HALL |
The most fun we had together, and this may sound a bit corny to you, was leaving the Biltmore to shop at Ingle’s Market for Christmas dinner to be prepared in our cabin the next day. I can only describe the cabin as a ‘tiny home’ built into the side of the mountain overlooking the creek below. It is part of a group of structures that make-up the Mountain Springs Cabins that exist along South Hominy Creek and include exceptional mountain views as an added bonus!
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| VIEW FROM OUR DINING TABLE |
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| LOOKING EAST FROM THE MOUNTAIN SPRING CABINS |
We decided an Italian menu was in order and made baked ziti in the amazingly tiny Tappan range/oven. This appliance was something I used to dream about having in the playhouse I wanted as a little girl. We served the hot, cheesy pasta with a fresh veggie and sweet berry laced spring-green salad and thick slices of buttered bread to soak up all of the spicy tomato sauce left on the plate. And, for dessert, a nutty, pumpkin cheesecake baked with love by an Ingle’s baker Christmas Eve Day!! We decided to pair our little feast with Biltmore’s Cardinal’s Crest Réserve 🍷 simply because it has always been our favorite Biltmore wine selection....made for almost any occasion.
Christmas Eve morning we spent Skyping with our youngest daughter and family as they opened the gifts we’d selected especially for them. The giggles of their excitement were like joyful carols to our ears and their faces sweet entertainment for our eyes. This was repeated when we experienced the reactions to the gifts we had sent up to our oldest daughter’s home while we were on FaceTime together Christmas morning. Not quite the same as being there, however, with Dan’s limited time off this Christmas, we made due with imagining the soft kisses and warm hugs of our five, favorite little people!
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| OUR CHRISTMAS DINNER ~ 2017 |
Having almost adjusted to mountain walking once again, with its varying degrees of slopes and having to park our car at odd angles that made opening and closing its doors quite a challenge, we woke-up early Tuesday morning knowing that we must face the bumper to bumper traffic that was certain to greet us along South I-95. So, as usual, we tried to prolong our trip by stopping in Hendersonville, North Carolina at Mast’s General Store that offers a variety of items ranging from oaken barrels filled with penny candy to warm heather gray vests by brands such as North Face and Patagonia.
While experiencing our mini-excursions, I try to ignore, for the most part, social media and concentrate on the task at hand....having fun! Being out of the loop for several days was just fine by us and upon pulling into our driveway around nine-thirty that night, nothing broke that spell as we unpacked and settled in for a good night’s sleep.
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| HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, KID |
As Dan completes his short week of work and we anticipate the passing of an old year (thank goodness!) and look forward to a new one beginning next Monday, I am making note of as many words as I can that might exemplify or sum up my current thoughts and feelings. So far, I’ve written down the three R’s, Resist, Replace, and Retirement. Not bad for starters. Then there’s this trio, Truth, Honesty, and Obligation to Mankind. But, wouldn’t it be easier to try to find one word, only one, that conjures up my exact feelings going into 2018?
The word I used way up in the beginning of this piece seems to come to mind: Adapt. I don’t mean to accept, assume, or promise anything. I mean to adapt in terms of making changes happen, adjusting and harmonizing with said changes, and learning to acclimate myself to and accommodate my life with what I feel is happening (for the good) around me.
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| BOYD'S MOUNTAIN CABINS MAGGIE VALLEY, NORTH CAROLINA |
You see, I know that change is coming. Whether this change is political or traditionally personal, it is going to happen and, in order to survive, I must learn how to adapt. Dan will be retiring and we will be listing our home for sale here in Orlando and packing-up our lives after living here for over twenty years. And, having to adapt to the cold, snowy climes of Michigan, once again, is going to happen, whether I’m ready for it or not!
So, adjust, prepare, and reconcile are added into the mix for good measure.
However, if you know me at all by now, you will know that there is one human attribute that constantly engulfs my thoughts and never leaves my side simply because it represents the greatest truth of all. That attribute, of course, is the ability to Love. With Love 💕 in our hearts we are capable of adapting to any and all situations that life throws our way. So, with an abundance of Love within me, I will learn to adapt to whatever this new year has to offer and grow stronger and more enlightened because of it.
Happy New Year to each one of you! Please learn to use whichever new word you might employ, wisely. And, always fill your heart with an abundance of Love for ALL of the people who share this interesting time and magnificent world with you. May we all learn to look at the reality of life this new year with a wiser, more benevolent, and kinder eye.
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| WE WISH YOU A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR ~ 2018!!! |
Copyright © 2017 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved
Photo Copyright © 2017 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved
