Biltmore

Yesterday, that first day of spring, we made the long trek to Biltmore! It took us a lil' over three hours to get there but it was well worth it. Just the drive had me excited, we saw mountains again and it felt like home! Around where we live now its just kinda hills. And the weather could not of been more perfect!
Known as America's largest home, Biltmore Estate along with its 8,000 acres (originally 125,000 acres) was just breathtaking. Pictures just don't do it justice. We finally arrived via shuttle and as soon as we rounded the corner and the house came into view, your mouth literally dropped. It's huge! And it's just gorgeous! I sat there in awe for a few minutes just taking it all in.
It took them over 6 years to build the house which was finally finished in 1895. It boasts 4 acres of floor space, 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, and a basement complete with a indoor tiled swimming pool and a bowling alley. The attention to detail and carvings and stone and woodworking leaves you bewildered as to how they did it. Not to mention the gardens, stables, winery, inn, farm, and the new Antler Hill Village! There was so much to see!

4 of the 5 of us outside the house. When my camera "stitched" some of the panoramic pictures together, I wasn't too steady handed, but you get the idea...it's big. Wish the shuttles cooperated a lil' more though and weren't constantly in my shots, hehe.

We were not allowed to take photos inside, but I did sneak a shot off one of the balconies. That's one of the views from the back of the house.

Beepa takin' in the scenery.

The only shot you will see inside the house, as it was the Biltmore folks that took it for us.
View from the side of the house...

After touring the house for a couple hours...you could literally get lost in the place and I know we didn't get to see half of it...we headed out to the gardens...
Course it looks better later in the season when everything is in bloom. Unfortunately it doesn't just all pop up on the first day of spring. Though that would of been really convenient!

Greenhouse

This place was chock full of happy plants and flowers!

Kathy strolling through the "tulips"

Mom and Dad

Mom and I

Us girls

Looky there, theres the tulips!

Mini-pineapple

Orchids...here...

...there and everywhere!

An interesting lil' flower

Antler Hill Village

This place just opened so they were sure to have flowers in full bloom everywhere!

You just have to see it for yourself!

The Vanderbilt family. Those who built and still own this home have summer "cottages" in Newport Rhode Island. Which I just so happened to visit and tour one of those "cottages" years ago. Located on the coast of Rhode Island is Marble House. It's huge all on its own. Lavishly furnished and even has a gold ballroom (every inch from the ceiling to the floor was covered in gold leaf, even the fireplace!) Unfortunately all my pictures from that 'venture are in my storage unit, but this is what the house looked like from outside...

And in the backyard they had the tea house...

Directly behind the tea house, is the ocean! I'd love to go back there again.

Here's a video I found that shows what some of the interior of the house looks like, course it doesn't do it justice, but you get the idea:

St. Patrick's Day Funny

A man stumbles drunk into a bar. There's only one other patron.The first man asks the second man to buy him a drink. The second man says: "Of course!"

The first man asks the second man: "Where are you from?" The second man says: "I'm from Ireland [pronounced Oiland]." The first man says: "Blow me down! I'm from Ireland [Oiland] too! Let's drink another round, to Ireland." They drink.

The first man then says: "Where in Ireland are you from?" The second man says: "Dublin [Dooblin]". "I can't believe it!" says the first man. "I'm also from Dublin! Let's drink another round, to Dublin." They drink.

The first man then says: "What school did you go to?" The second man replies: "Saint Mary's. I graduated in '62." "This is unbelievable!" the first man says. "I went to Saint Mary's and I graduated in '62, too!"

One of the regulars comes in and sits down at the bar. "What's been happening?" he asks the bartender. "Nothing much," replies the bartender. "The O'Malley twins are drunk again."



Paddy Counts His Rabbits
Paddy wanted to be an accountant, so he went and took the Irish accountancy exam.
Examiner: If I give you two rabbits and then I give you another two rabbits, how many rabbits do you have?

Paddy: Five.

Examiner: No, listen carefully again. If I give you two rabbits and then I give you another two rabbits, how many rabbits have you got?

Paddy: Five.

Examiner: Let's try this another way. If I give you two bottles of beer and then I give you another two bottles of beer, how many bottles of beer have you got?

Paddy: Four.

Examiner: Good! Now, if I give you two rabbits and then I give you another two rabbits, how many rabbits have you got?

Paddy: Five.

Examiner: How on earth do you work out that two lots of two rabbits is five? Paddy: I've already got one rabbit at home!

Did I Hear That Right?

Ok, this one time, as I was sitting at the desk. I was innocently job searching and I heard the dogs barking. Now this is nothing new, since moving here Toby has learned to bark and now I can't get him to be quiet. It's like a chain reaction, once one dog barks, they all start barking. It's making me seriously think about getting a bark **zap** collar, just to stop all this nonsense and keep things quiet around here. I am all for alerts when there is actual danger, but the cat sneezing upstairs is not something I would call an emergency worth setting the "dog alarm" off on.
Anyways, this barking was totally different, it sounded as if the dogs were outside. I thought for sure I was hearing things. After all, how could they possibly be outside. At the time I was the only one home and last I knew those knuckleheads hadn't learned how to open the door knobs yet. I jump up just to see what they are up to and what exactly they are barking at so I could proceed to tell them to just hush. As I approached the back door however, through the window I could see Toby outside?! As I got closer I saw the other two out there as well! I ran out and grabbed Boston as quickly as I could (that lil bugger runs away, luckily he had stuck around with the other two) Once I snagged him I ran in to see how they got out. Apparently the wind caught the front door (someone must not of latched it all the way, this happened once before, and it's a heavy wooden door) leaving it wide open! And all three of the dogs zipped it out the door, tearin' into the backyard barking. Guess it's a good thing they don't know how to be quiet, or who knows how long it would of been before I noticed they were all MIA.

Friday Fill-Ins 22

TGIF...today is that magical day, right before the weekend...time for Friday Fill-Ins:


1. Why are you making me wake up at 3am to the sound of a golf ball rolling across the floor, Toby?
2. I want you to take your time, no one should rush you.
3. Now and then it will be on my terms.
4. I just have to wait and see what happens.
5. I could use a miracle right about now.
6. Things seemed to be more of a mess and then I just learned to make things more simple.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleep, tomorrow my plans include spending some time with Toby and Sunday, I want to most likely, study!

More Snow?

This is what we woke up to yesterday morning...more snow!!

Made me feel at home :)
Toby lookin' back...

...deer tracks...those guys seem to be everywhere around here!

The snow was short lived, most of it was melted by the end of the day, but I enjoyed it while I could.