Happenings

My goal - have an awesome summer, and I have a plethora of activities on my "to do" list. 

So far, its going GREAT!

So here are some things I've been up to. June 8th, instead of going into the office, we met at a historic park in Raleigh for a little community service. This park is historic because it is the birthplace of Andrew Johnson. The building is a replica but they do have some original foundation stones.

Our service was mulching. They mulch EVERYTHING here in North Carolina. 

Here I am hard at work, they captured my best side ;)

FYI: you want it evenly spread about 2 inches deep and it has to be at least 2 or 3 inches clear of the tree base. In case any of you are mulching anytime soon.

This is an adorable little chapel on the property, still used for weddings. They opened it up for us so we could take a look inside. It only seats 30 and has cute, though uncomfortable wooden pews. Also, the office catered lunch for us. What did we have, North Carolina BBQ of course! It was delicious.

The next day, I went to this cute little village in Chapel Hill to watch an outdoor movie - Hunger Games.  I hadn't seen the movie yet but I had read the books, and I was a little nervous the movie would be ruined for me.  But it was actually really good. And I loved seeing it outside under the stars.

Yes, I bought popcorn from the concession stands, it was just too cute.

I went with Molly, who I'm house looking with, and her current roommates Laura and Danielle.

The next Friday, June 15th (a Happy Birthday to my brother Nathaniel and niece Zoey) I went to dinner and bowling with some people from church. My summer roommates are below, Izzy (short for Elizabeth) is on the left and Naomi is on the right. The middle girl is Izzy's coworker.

I like to go by a made up name when I bowl, on my lane, I was the only one to do this. My name  this time around, GUAPA! (Translation: sexy/hot). I'm the first one and I started the night with a 104. Back in my college days, when I took it as a course my average was around 136.

Surprisingly I went up a point in my second game. I have never increased my score on the second game, ever! Even though it was only one point, it was still an unprecedented event.

After our first two games, we got kind of silly. Izzy pulled out the "helper" thing and didn't get a single point. Haha! She bowls better without the help.

By this time it was after midnight and we were the only people still there. We had unlimited bowling till 1am.

I'm going strong...

REALLY strong. I don't know what happened but my 3rd game, I got 126! This was a crazy night!

The remaining few. We started with almost 20 people but by 12:30 this was who was left.  After this picture everyone left but Izzy and her fiance Robert. They were staying until they were kicked out.

Seriously, I've had some good times. I'm really enjoying the summer in North Carolina.

BILTMORE

The LARGEST privately owned home in the United States.

Built by George Washington Vanderbilt II in 1895 in what is now Asheville, NC.

The home is 175,000 sq. feet and originally 125,000 acres of land. The family now owns a mere 8,000 acres.

The architecture is AMAZING!

As for the cost to build or cost to operate, supposedly "they don't know." But being privately owned, I'm positive its more a matter of they don't want to say. I will say admission with an advance purchase discount was $45.

Memorial Day at 7am we (Jessica, Spencer in the white striped shirt, and I) met at Brett's house (far back) and picked up Jake (guy in blue) and drove the three hours to Asheville. I was awake for about the first hour, then I crashed on Jessica's shoulder and had a lovely nap.

So ZERO photos were allowed inside but this is the balcony in back and we were allowed pictures there.

Just chilling on my gigantic balcony with my cherub.

Trying to show the IMMENSE size of this balcony, I'm in the center back, look close.

The gorgeous view!

The princess in her tower! I wish, this place was incredible.

Enjoying the view some more.

Not only was it completely picturesque, Brett was a total sport and took tons of pictures for me.

So the house included an indoor pool with underwater lighting (remember this is 1895), a bowling alley, an exercise room, a two-story library, a bakery kitchen, a rotisserie kitchen, a fruit kitchen, a vegetable kitchen, and hundreds of other rooms - 250 to be exact. To the right of the house are the horse stables that have been converted into stores and a restaurant. The courtyard scene reminded me of Europe. 

The candy store was sugar heaven!

Two cute kids in a candy store. And yes I bought truffles.

We had lunch at the Stable Cafe.

We actually ate inside a horse stall!

I had the BBQ with all the fixings and for the first time had collared greens. I really liked them, the South definitely agrees with me.

 Papa - paparazzi

Haha, just kidding after lunch we went to walk the grounds and gardens.

Seriously great picture taking spots, thanks Brett for playing photographer.

The fairy-tale castle, er..home.

Such beautiful plants and flowers.

This one was my favorite.

Jessica and I in the solarium.

"Once upon a time,...there was a very very large mansion, almost a castle... There were servants inside the mansion, and servants outside the mansion; boatmen to tend the boats, and six crews of gardeners: two for the solarium..." This line from Sabrina kept coming to me as we walked the grounds.

No mansion is complete without its own lake.

Read the sign and then scroll down...

THIS is the waterfall. I guess water is falling so technically it qualifies, but after all the grandeur it falls a little short. Haha!

Another beautiful view.

I love this picture of Brett trying to capture Jessica in the air. I don't know if he was successful, but I was.

A single cartwheel is great...

Double cartwheels are awesome!

So funny, Brett was telling me how to pose and what to do. Awkward? not at all, hilarious fun for me.

Headed to the shuttle.

Far end of the grounds, facing the mansion.

Car picture!

Hope your Memorial Day was as rich and awe-inspiring!