Our Trip to Hilton Head (Part 2)

On the final day of our mini vaca, we visited the Harbor on Hilton Head, called South Beach.  There were HUGE yachts docked there and lots of little shops to browse through.  The temperature had turned a little chilly, but we bundled up and looked around.  Fun day.

The lighthouse is at the end of the harbor, which is in
the shape of a circle,and we could see its light at night
 from our spot on the beach, several miles away.

Peg and Jim in front of the lighthouse.
(it was quite cold and windy that morning!)

Ships docked at the harbor.  This was obviously not one of the giant yachts,
but it had a lot of character, so it got its picture taken.

Pelicans! (the boys have the white heads....fyi :-)

Julie meets yet another local.  Geez I'm popular!

The boys relax while the ladies shop.
....Good times had by all.

Our Trip to Hilton Head (Part 1)

Recently, Matt's parents invited us down to Hilton Head to spend the weekend with them.  They had a time share and we were off work for a couple of days... it worked out just splendidly.  We were only there for three days, but it was a lovely mini-vaca.  Here are some pics from the trip.  There were so many, that I'm going to post them in two parts.  Following is the first half of pictures, and I will post some from our day at the Harbor, at a later time.

This is the Lagoon that snaked it's way through the resort.
Turtles, fish, and other creatures lived in it.

The beach was wide and flat.
The sand was so firm that you could ride your bikes on the beach.
It was also GREAT for bachee!

Matt headed down to the beach.

Pool-side tiki bar!

The super nice bartender insisted on taking a picture of us together,
 sipping our drinks on vaca.

My glamour shot.

Matt went fishing at a spot some locals recomended...

...while I relaxed and watched.

Then we met some locals near the fishing spot.

They were very friendly.

And we were extremely popular!

Hike up "Shored-Off"... a pictorial essay.

Annie and I overlooking Lake James on the first leg of our hike.

Made it to the top!

Matt gazing at "Hawk's Bill"

Hawk's Bill again.
Notice my hiking stick that Matt made me for my Birthday...
it's very fancy; you can't really tell from the picture.

Self-shot!

Roasting salami over a tiny fire on the rock.
This is a very underestimated hiking treat.

Siesta

Tired hikers.

I'm not sure what this expression is saying.  Very smug.

Annie's Glamour Shot

Sun is starting to descend behind the Mountains

Beautiful Sunset behind the Black Mountains.
They really do look black in this shot.

Sunset over Lake James.  Gorgeous.

A great day for a hike.

The Adventures of Moose the Mountain Cat

Baby Moose. 

 (or as Cora says... "No, that's a cat")

Moose the Mountain Cat

  So this weekend, Matt was helping out with a friend's wedding.  He was to drive the shuttle for the wedding guests to get them to this little Inn tucked away in the mountains. Matt picked up the van earlier in the day and parked it at our house until his services were needed once the wedding commenced.
   Little did he know (I was at work at the time) that Moose the Mountain Cat, secretly snuck into the van while it was parked in our drive.  No one knows how he got in...the windows were not down and the doors were not left open.  None-the-less, he managed this great feat.
    Unawares, that he had taken on a stow-away, Matt continued on to the wedding in the afternoon.  It was not until he had picked up his first group of wedding guests, that our good friend Andrew asked "Hey, who's cat is that!?".  Matt turned around surprised and shouted "that's my cat!".  (well perhaps he did not shout, but it was dramatic, none the less.)  At this point, the whole wedding shebang is wayy out in the middle of nowhere.  More than an hour from our house.  And so the wedding guests, all gussied up in their finest, got to take turns all night, holding Moose the Mountain Cat.  He seemingly loved the attention (as is his nature) and just purred and purred as he was passed from one adoring guest to the other.

  Much later in the night, I found out about Moose's Great Adventure.  The information had been delayed, as Matt's phone has also died that night, and without a charger, he could not get ahold of me.  We eventually all ended up partying late night in downtown Asheville, as the wedding was over, I was off work by that time, and we were all very thirsty.  Moose the Mountain Cat continued his saga in downtown A-ville until the wee hours of the morning, none the worse for wear.
   Now, returned safetly to his home, without misshap, he is still bragging to all the other animals about his night out in Western North Carolina.  Fun times were had by all.

The Obama's have arrived!

  

So, I was just going to take Annie for a walk at Lake Tamahawk Park (a frequent walking destination of ours) and low and behold, there is a roadblock leaving our cove!  I don't see any reason for such a roadblock and so I stand outside my car, shading my eyes like everyone else is doing.  Nothing to be seen. Eventually I strike up a conversation with a gal who apparently lives down the lane from us, and together, we troop over to ask Buncombe County's Finest, what in tarnation is going on.  And as cool and casual as he can be, he tells us that "oh, the Obama's are in town and they're headed this way.  Lookin to go to Black Mountain from the airport.  Can't let anyone under this bridge (I-40 highway) until they pass over." Well, how do you like that!? Barack and Michelle are in Black Mountain!  We waited for what seemed like an eternity, but was probably no more than 15 minutes, and there they go by...Big B and Mo, and it looks like they brought the entire staff of the White House with them.  There was no less than 2 huge tour buses, about 5 or 6 SUVs, cop cars up the wazoo, an ambulance, plus what I think is Asheville's entire squad of motorcycle police both fore and aft.  So "new friend" and I waved as they went by and swore we saw a big black man waving back. (Probably a security guard).

...Word in town is, that the Obama's are looking to buy land here.  This is their third visit to the area.  Plus, they timed it just right for leaf season!  The way I figure it... it's only a matter of time before we're all playin Cornhole together down at the Ale House.

Where's the motivation?

  There are about a dozen things I should be doing right now from my Mental Checklist... The new woodstove needs to be sanded down so the rust is off and the new paint can go on.  The garlic patch needs to be double-dug and then dressed with a fresh layer of aging compost (compliments of the hens!).  The hoop house needs to be battened down (again) as every fresh windstorm loosens it up and little pockets of cold air rush in. On top of all that, there are bills to be paid and my car was being tempramental last night at work when I tried to start it to go home.... putting off trying to start it up again this morning... maybe to delay the reality that it may need some work (or maybe it was just a fluke!).

  Anyhoo, with cold weather looming ahead and garlic ready to go in the ground in a few weeks (Nov.1st, here), I just can't seem to work up the motivation to put down this hot cup of coffee, and get off the front stoop to start it all.  It's just one of those BEAUTIFUL fall days in the valley...warm balmy breeze, brightly colored leaves falling like snow, chickens pecking at my feet for whatever bugs they can scratch up.  It's like Nature's TV.  I've seen this episode before, but it's such a good one that I don't mind reruns!

A Windy Fall Day... Better make a BLOG!

First ever post of the 'Lil Homestead in the Woods!  It is a Beautiful fall day here in the Swannanoa Valley.  The trees are EXPLODING with color, the sun is out, and the wind is blowing.  What better than to curl up with the computer to create a blog, in order to share our world with You!  Look forward to our daily goings-on here in "Swanna-no-where", as well as some images of our life down here in the cove.  We realize many of our loved ones are oh-so-far-away, and this should prove to be a great way to feel a little bit closer, and give you a glimpse into our daily life.   Stay tuned!  Pics and stories to come!