Fenced Back Yard

So, one of the many projects I devised was fencing in the back yard for the dogs.  Mavic had gotten bitten by a neighbor dog just before we got married and Max lives in the basement, which means the garage door stays continually open.  I really like the idea of just opening the back door on the deck and not worrying about Mavic getting into trouble. He does need a peeing post though, as the mint garden in the corner of the first photo has been the unfortunate target of late.

With the help of Frank and Mom and Dad, we finally got it finished.  It looks fantastic!

Next project: Dog house for Max so he can be permanently moved to the back yard. He gets really excited to be able to run around and even knows how to "retrieve" his babies.  Imagine that!

Next, next project: Bike shop and tool area organized in basement  :)

Thursday Schedule of Events

7:00 pm Ruby's BBQ
It's 25 cent wing night at Ruby's. We know it's not the healthiest of choices, but man are they good. Ruby's has some mean pulled pork and chicken too. The best part is they have a tiki bar and patio out back that is what it's all about! And $2.50 draft specials. Stop by and join the fun out back with us!

How to find them: Located in East Asheville off of Tunnel Road towards Black Mountain. Tunnel Road is where the main shopping portal of Asheville is and the road runs right under 240 heading towards our home in Black Mountain. After about 2 miles from 240, look for the church on top of the hill, just past the fire station and library and turn left at the light on Beverly Road. You'll drive through what you swear is a residential area (Beverly Rd.), then boom, there it is on the right. Walk through the restaurant to the patio in the rear.

P.S. The website is a riot! Don't be afraid, it's only the South!

Friday Schedule of Events

10:15 am Sunny Point Breakfast/Lunch
Voted the #2 best breakfast spot in the U.S. and right here in West Asheville. And, we must agree with that (although we think they deserve #1). It is a small cafe, so if you're planning on joining us, please let us know and we'll try to get one massive table. They added a nice awning for a great outdoor area, so that's what we're shooting for.

How to find it: West Asheville is literally just west of downtown. The easiest way to get to Sunny Point it to get on Interstate 240 and look for Exit 2 (Haywood St.). Depending from which direction you are coming, you'll turn accordingly and head west. Sunny Point is on the right and parking is pretty much a "find it, take it" kind of area (it's a popular area).


12:45 pm Trolley Tour
We'll meet at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce, which has a nice parking lot and is very close to downtown. The tour is one of those "I live here, so I've never done that" kind of thing Dwight and I would actually love to experience with you all. We'll get the group rate at $15 a person. The tour mentions that you can get on and off at stops, but I'm not sure about all of that.

How to find it: Montford Exit from I 240. Turn North (away from downtown). The chamber is part of the visitor's center directly on the left and parking is behind the building.


4:00 Highland Brewery Free Tour
Now the fun begins! This is absolutely the best free tour you'll ever take if you like tasting beer and learning about how one of the biggest (and best) brewers in Asheville crafts their concoctions. You might think you're in a movie as they are located at the Blue Ridge Motion Picture Studios Back Lot, but believe us, it's really a brewery back there. And to top it off, they will also have live music and food available. Here's the group scheduled to play Friday. Buy a pint after the tour with us and hang out by the music or in the grassy area adjacent to the tasting room. And if you're a daring one- buy their newest t-shirt.

How to find them:

From West on I-40 East

Exit 53B to I-240 & 74-A

Stay in the far right lane, which becomes Exit 8 off I-240 then follow directions below.

From East on I-40 West

Exit 53B to I-240 & 74-A

Stay in far right lane.

Take first exit--Exit 8.

Turn right onto Highway 74-A.

Go straight through one more stoplight. (Stay in right lane.)

Get into right turn lane & make hair-pin right turn onto Old Charlotte Hwy.

(From the light at the exit to this turn, it's 2/10ths of a mile.)

Once on Old Charlotte Hwy.

Take second left into Blue Ridge Motion Pictures (past the guard shack and up a long, winding driveway). At the top of the driveway, continue straight ahead to the last building on the left.

From Downtown Asheville:

I-240 East to Exit 8

Turn left onto Highway 74-A.

Go through two stoplights.

Merge into right turn lane & make hair-pin right turn onto Old Charlotte Hwy.

Take second left into Blue Ridge Motion Pictures (past the guard shack and up a long, winding driveway). At the top of driveway, continue straight ahead to the last building on the left.

6:30 pm Dinner at Downtown Asheville Pizza and Brewing
Everything here is great, from the delectable pizzas, hummus, duh knots, and of course, beer. It's just south of downtown, walking distance from Patton Avenue, but a bit far from Hotel Indigo or the convention center. And, we're sorry, but you'll get to experience the joys of trying to find a parking spot downtown on a Friday. Just a word of caution, if it looks sketchy, it is, so don't park there. It's a safe town, but in the evenings, you just can't be too safe. We tend to park towards downtown on side streets, versus away from. And usually, there are spots right around the restaurant. Let us know if you're coming and we can help advise.

How to find it: Umm, if you know where Patton Avenue runs right downtown, you're close. You'll turn right on Coxe Ave. but Patton is one-way at this point from the West. You can also take Broadway down from the center a bit and turn left on a side street towards Coxe. The best bet is probably to look on a google map, then give us a call.

8 pm Drum Circle Pritchard Park
This is hard core Asheville and it's crazy! The beat of native drums in mesmerizing patterns is heard all around town as locals join in Pritchard Park to pound away the night. Hippies, hoola hoops, homeless people and lots of spectators demonstrate why we love Asheville. Where else could you ever see this? (Julie and Christie don't count) :)

How to find it: Walking distance from Asheville Pizza and Brewing or anywhere near downtown as it's pretty much in the dead center of town. Listen for the thumping or look for the BBT building and head slightly west.

Saturday Schedule of Events

9:45 am Bat Cave Guided Hike

This is a specially arranged tour from the Nature Conservatory is to the real bat cave that the town was named after. We have pre-paid for 10 people, so if you can let us know that you would like to attend, we'd appreciate it. But, don't worry if you decide that morning; please come.

SITE INFORMATION:
After hiking a mile up a steep trail through a mature hardwood forest, you will be rewarded with Bat Cave’s natural air conditioning: a cool moist draft that constantly pours out of vents on the side of the large cave. Bat Cave is the largest known granite fissure cave in North America. The main chamber is a dark cathedral more than 300 feet long and approximately 85 feet high. Fissure caves are formed by rock splits, boulder movements, and other motions of the earth, while most other caves are formed by water dissolving and abrading rock.

While seeing this impressive cave opening is the attraction for most visitors, the rugged slopes around Bat Cave contain an equally important array of habitats and creatures. Hickory Nut Gorge is cloaked in cove hardwood forest, while Carolina hemlock and chestnut oak forest are found on the cliff tops and ridgeline. The forests harbor a number of threatened or endangered plants, such as broadleaf coreopsis and Carey’s saxifrage. The preserve has an abundance of spring wildflowers, including bloodroot, toothwort, trillium, and violets.

More Information

Where to park: Bat Cave at the Apple House. It's pretty much the only notable building and if about 10 minutes from Lake Lure towards Asheville. Be prompt. Bring water and wear sturdy clothes pants are recommended and hiking shoes(no flip flops or sandals). The hike is approximately 1 mile one-way and is moderate to very strenuous. The hike will be in the mountains and is highlighted by visiting the Bat Cave! This hike will be guided by The Nature Conservancy and they will explain the plants and wildlife of the preserve.


3 pm Boat Tour (Tentative)

Because it's listed as first come, we're saying tentative, but if we can reserve the spot as a group boat tour, we'll update it here to let you know.

Discover the beauty and charm of Lake Lure. Relax on one of our covered tour boats while your skipper guides you past local attractions and landmarks such as the locations used in filming the popular Dirty Dancing and the recently restored historic 1927 Lake Lure Inn and Spa. Listen to the legends, and learn about the natural and cultural history of Hickory Nut Gorge, home to Lake Lure, North Carolina.

Where to park: Lake Lure Marina this is the big park on the left when you drive over the bridge.

If you could let us know if you're planning on joining us, that will make sure we book enough spaces.


6 pm Cookout
Still working out the details, but we're planning on having a veggie burger, buffalo burger, organic hot dog kind of cookout in Lake Lure. We'll also have some of our favorite brews on hand. More soon.

Sunday Schedule of Events

3 pm Ceremony in the Gardens of Lake Lure Inn and Spa

Where to Park: There is street parking all up and down Memorial Highway, in front of the hotel or you can park a short walk away at the Lake Lure Marina and Park, just as you enter into the town. You'll see the lake on your left if you are coming from Asheville.

How to Find: There is a sign on the right directly on the street that says Gardens, just past the Beachfront Grill.

The ceremony will be held outside (weather permitting) the hall, but you will walk through it to get to the outdoor area.

If you are staying as a guest at the hotel or enter through the lobby of the hotel, you can also reach the Gardens through the pool area. There is a gate that leads you over from there.

4-8 pm Reception
Please feel free to mingle outside or make your way into the air-conditioned reception hall for music, Hors D’ oeuvres, dinner and cake!

Our Music:
Our absolute most favorite Asheville music group will be celebrating the night with us. We were ecstatic to find out Stephanie's Id also has an ensemble called CryBaby; and Stephanie was excited to come out and sing for us. She'll be playing a lot of swing, jazz and even a few Id songs during our reception. Here's her facebook page. Sorry for the late notice, but bring your swing shoes. It's going to be a blast!

Where are we registered?

OK, so we've been asked this a few times. Wow, totally forgot that part. We just want you all to come and have fun!

Seriously though, there isn't a whole lot we can say about all that. We'll list some of our favorite places and a few things we'd like. We'll do some looking around and see if any of the below actually have registries and let you know if that's a success

IKEA- even though our closest one is in Charlotte, we find that we can spend hours in here looking at stuff. Top picks- big picture frames (black): some even have beautiful black and white photography included, mood lights, anything LED, nice cloth napkins

Trader Joe's- same distance, but anything from here we love (minus tomato products-Dwight)

Home Depot and Lowes- who's not improving their home? While we have our fair share of tools and gadgets, we still seem to visit these weekly

Ross and TJ Max- We really like getting a deal and they aim to please

EarthFare and Greenlife- our local health/environment conscious grocery stores

Target- Our favorite of the "big box" stores

ITEMS:

• Negative Ion Salt Lights
• Fountains (Indoor or Out)
• Koi pond with waterfall
  
• Big Coffee Mugs- Preferably hand made (you can't get enough good coffee, see below)
• Coffee- Fair Trade or Organic preferred and beans
• White or neutral salad size bowls- like what you are served in a nice restaurant. Cereal bowls just don't seem to cut it presentation-wise
• Nice Kitchen towels or utensils- getting kind of tired of the multicolor plastic and stained ones we have now
• Organization tools, boxes, shelves, etc.- sigh, like most people, we already have way too much of way too many things
  

That's a start at least and hope that helps inquiring minds.

Discounted room block until August 1 and other lodging options

The Lake Lure Inn and Spa, where we are getting married, has extended the 15% off room rates until August 1st. You will need to call them directly at 828-625-2525 and ask for the Boos/Dabbs block.

Also, there is a really nice lodge called the Esmeralda in Chimney Rock http://www.theesmeralda.com/ and this web site http://www.distinctivemtnlodging.com/Lodging.html has a useful map view with various house rental options starting at two days. There are literally a ton of little places to stay, like this one http://www.chimneyrockinn.net/index.html and at all prices.

Good luck searching. Please, let us know if you have any questions or problems.