Biltmore House Azalea Garden

These photos are from our time at the Biltmore Gardens on Saturday May 3rd.

I want to finish up my posts from Katie and my cross country trip before June. I still have a few posts from the Biltmore House and Gardens. A few of these posts are visual with no need of commentary. Remember if you visit the Biltmore to wear comfortable shoes and clothing. There are lots of trails to explore.

It’s amazing to think of all the miles we logged and all the beautiful sights we were afforded on our cross country trip.

Today I’m home again home again jiggity jig. Dear and I got home at about 11:00 P.M. on Tuesday night. Dear was off to work on Wednesday at 5:00 AM and I had my annual doctor’s visit just after 8:00 A.M. on Wednesday. On Thursday I will be mowing our overgrown lawn (mostly weeds). I’m pleased with the Spring growth that has bloomed while I was gone. I’ll have to take some photos of some things that surprised and blessed me on my return. I’ll share my sweet memorial azaleas for my dear mom that bloomed so pink and pretty.

How are things in your corner of the world?

May Note Card Party!

Pop over to Vee’s at A Haven for Vee to join in on her May Note Card Party.

Thank you Vee!

I guess you see where I was going with my May Note Cards. We are so thrilled for our Son-in-law Andrew’s homecoming from Afghanistan.

Late August 2013 they drove from Jacksonville, North Carolina to Seattle in their car packed with all they could carry. Katie moved in with us. Andrew flew back to Jacksonville. Andrew was deployed to Afghanistan in September. Katie sent packages, wrote letters, communicated via the internet. We all prayed. September, October, November, December, January, February, March went by and April came. Andrew’s time was extended in Afghanistan. We kept praying. We started making plans to get Katie and their car back to Jacksonville, North Carolina. I made a road trip map. Andrew got tentative word about his possible return dates. We packed the car. We set out on our SeaJack trip on Sunday April 27th. We arrived in Jacksonville on May 4th. We found an apartment. We carried their minimal possessions up 3 flights of stairs. We ordered a bed. We shopped at Wal-Mart and the Commissary and the Exchange. Katie made a Welcome Home sign. Everything was ready. I flew to Orlando to meet my Dear on Thursday May 15th. Andrew returned to Katie’s arms at 11:00 P.M. Saturday May 17th, Armed Forces Day. Happy Happy Joy Joy! We prayed again thanking God for His great gift to us!

I’ll be coming around to see your note cards soon. I’m flying this evening from Orlando to Seattle. Looking forward to being back in our home.

S is for Swans

Time for ABC Wednesday and the letter S.

Do some of you wonder why ABC Wednesday seems to start on Tuesday? There are so many countries represented that Wednesday comes earlier in those countries than the U.S.A. Does that make sense? Anyhoo Katie and I saw some beautiful swans and a little fluffy baby swan at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, North Carolina that I thought would be perfect for the letter S. I’ll post our whole experience at the gardens in the future.

And this is my Swan Song for my time on the East Coast of the U.S.A. I’m headed back to the West Coast and my own bed after 25 days away!

Why Florida?

So why am I in Florida instead of being home by now? Dear is working his company’s booth at the AUA conference which means I would have been home alone if I traveled there so we made the plans for me to meet up with him in Orlando, a sort of side trip to Seattle from Jacksonville, North Carolina. I didn’t want to be away from Dear for a full 25 days! The hotel room and his food are all paid for by his company. All we pay for is my food and expenses so I get to see another part of the U.S.A. for a bargain.

AUA American Urological Association

This is the hotel that Dear’s company booked for their conference attendees.

You could rent a cabana for $125 a day. I opted for a massage instead.

These are the views from our room. I zoomed in to get the city scape. I was hoping to see an alligator in that marshy area but I never did.

Walking along International Blvd. proved true to it’s name. We heard so many languages as we walked along. I personally spoke to a Russian couple from Moscow who thought my Russian accent was very genuine. I also talked to a gal from Romania and a few gals from Britain and another young lady from Los Angeles, which is an international city all it’s own…

We didn’t stray much from the hotel to eat because of Dear’s busy schedule but we enjoyed a meal at the Pub and their kilted staff. Is kilted a word? You know what I mean the staff wore kilts…the guys and the gals.

We didn’t drink these all in one sitting. They were an interesting photo op.

On Monday I scheduled myself a massage at the Hotel Spa. I went early enough for my appointment to enjoy their steam room, whirlpools and lounging areas. I was the only person enjoying this private spa area at the hotel on this morning. This was my only lounging outside experience in Florida. Sunny, hot, humid climes are not on my “go to” list. I am crossing Florida off my U.S. States to visit list.

This is a photo of the sunrise on the East Coast. I am very happy to say that by the time the sun sets on the West Coast on Tuesday I should be home.

Psalm 113:3 (ESV)

From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!

A Picture…

…is worth a thousand words!

He’s home and back in the arms of our daughter Katie.

Andrew’s Battalion landed at Cherry Point last night (May 17th). Before being bused over to meet their families they had to check in all their gear. Agony in waiting knowing their loved ones were so close but joy when they could finally see their loved ones’ faces!

Thank you to all of you who have prayed for Andrew during his deployment in Afghanistan. We thank God for keeping him safe all these long months. We are overjoyed to see this photo and this reunion.

I just had to interrupt my usual Sunday Hymn posting for this gift from God to us. If you scroll down you will see my hymn for Sunday, too.

Grace Greater Than Our Sin ~ Hymn

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Refrain

Words: Julia H. Johnston, 1911.

Armed Forces Day!

Many Americans celebrate Armed Forces Day annually on the third Saturday of May. It is a day to pay tribute to men and women who serve the United States’ armed forces. Armed Forces Day is also part of Armed Forces Week, which begins on the second Saturday of May.

The Seattle Sounders are honoring the Armed Forces at their game on the 17th of May. It’s always a great event to be a part of. I’ll be missing that game since I’m still in Florida but my season ticket will be enjoyed by a friend.

I’m partial to celebrating the Marines and soon we’ll be hearing about a reunion like the one below when Andrew, our Marine, reaches U.S. soil and the arms of his faithful and supportive wife, our daughter Katie. We can hardly wait to hear of the reunion.

Thank you, thank you to all those who serve us and our country in the Armed Forces!

Biltmore Shrub Garden

We managed to see a lot in one day at the Biltmore but we were pretty tired by the end of our time. If you are going to trek through the gardens and property I would suggest wearing good walking shoes and if it’s a warm day carry some water with you. I mentioned before that I love Wisteria so I was pleased to be able to see it in bloom. I’ll still be sharing the Azalea Garden, The Bass Pond, and Antler Hill Village.

Now back to the future. Yesterday was my most exhausting air travel experience ever! My flight from Jacksonville was supposed to leave at 3:54 then I got an email saying it was changed to 4:54 then when I was at the airport the time was changed to 6:04 and then the time was changed to 6:41. My connecting flight in Atlanta was at 6:10 so I knew I was in trouble. After lots of juggling and kind talking to the agents I got on standby on a 6:04 flight to Atlanta. When I arrived in Atlanta I ran quite a distance to get to a gate with a flight to Orlando leaving at 7:55 (missed that one) but the agent kindly secured me a seat on the 8:55 flight to Orlando. I arrived 45 minutes after Dear and he was in baggage claim waiting for me. What a great sight it was to see his face after 19 days apart. I was really pleased to find my suitcase, too.

Our taxi ride was harrowing. I don’t know if the driver was falling asleep but he had trouble staying in a lane. He straddled the lanes and braked and accelerated for no reason. I think the best way to describe the ride being so close to Walt Disney World is to stay it was “Mr Toad’s Wild Ride”. I thanked the Lord when we pulled up in front of the hotel alive. I’m going to lay low today and recuperate from my day yesterday.

Is this a long weekend in Canada?

Biltmore Walled Garden and Conservatory

We were at the Biltmore on Saturday May 3rd so the flowers that were blooming well at this point were the Azaleas and the Wisteria still hadn’t lost it’s glow. This walled garden will probably be spectacular when all the roses bloom.

Today is my last day in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Katie will be driving me to the little airport for my flight to Orlando, Florida this afternoon. I won’t be escaping the heat in Florida as the forecast is calling for temps in the upper 80’s the 5 days that I’m there. I’m happy to report I was able to jam everything into my one medium suitcase for this leg of my trip. I’m leaving a small suitcase here for Katie and Andrew to use on their return trip to Seattle. I wasn’t sure I could shlep around 2 suitcases, a computer bag and camera bag around the in Orlando while I wait for Dear to arrive on a later flight than mine so I’m pleased that I can leave a suitcase here.

Can you believe it’s the fifteenth of May already?

Biltmore ~ America’s Largest Home

Part of Katie and my hotel package in Asheville, North Carolina included a two day pass to Biltmore House and Gardens. Biltmore began in 1895 as George Vanderbilt’s vision and continues today under the stewardship of his descendants.

The family still owns 8000 acres of Blue Ridge Mountain land and this is just a fraction of what they started with. They sold thousands of acres to the Federal government which is now the Pisgah National Forest.

A view from the Loggia. No photography was allowed in the house but they had an area for a photo op that the house provided.

You could pay for a larger copy for $30.00, pricey. We opted for the free little version!

This is just a taste of the Biltmore. You can imagine with 8000 acres that there is more to share. The gardens were bursting with color from thousands of Azalea bushes. We ended our day at the Biltmore House with a meal at Antler Hill Village and a tour of the winery. Stay tuned!

My time is winding down here in Jacksonville. Tomorrow I’ll board a plane for Orlando and meet up with my Dear. Looking forward to it. I leave knowing our daughter will soon be reunited with her beloved and that makes me happy and oh so thankful.

One thing I know is that the Pacific Northwest is a very good location for me. I am quite intolerant of heat and humidity in my older years. My hair is very intolerant of the humidity, too. The “South” is fun to visit but I’m not looking to buy property here.

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Biltmore House Azalea Garden

May Note Card Party!

S is for Swans

Why Florida?

A Picture…

Grace Greater Than Our Sin ~ Hymn

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Armed Forces Day!

Biltmore Shrub Garden

Biltmore Walled Garden and Conservatory

Biltmore ~ America’s Largest Home