Note: Click to bigify the pictures--
OHMYWORD blog-size does NOT do them justice!
"B" is for...
bumbley...
and beautiful...
and busy...
and beady-eyed...
And "b" is for buggy...
and (wanna)bee
Beautiful flowers and bees captured at the spectacular Biltmore Gardens; I'm VERY happy to report no one was stung in the process.
| |
|
Now through October, the Biltmore Legacy is hosting The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass in the Antler Hill Village; an exhibit of 45 lamps and peripheral items created by Louis Comfort Tiffany and The Tiffany Studios, free with Estate admission.
My husband and I made a quick trip to the Biltmore Estate over the July Fourth holiday, and while the fireworks at the Inn that night were spectacular, the exhibit's Tiffany lamps were the true show stoppers--softly glowing illuminated masterpieces, every. single. one. of. them.
Succinctly put, the Tiffany exhibit is excellent--informative, interesting and accessible. The companion content is easy to read and just the right amount of information.
Observers can learn about the process of creating a Tiffany lamp--
Tiffany and company channeled inspiration from nature; floral motifs and dragonflies dominate--
Some designs depict wildlife--
...and others Still Life...
And sometimes simple is more than enough.... I love the cozy, pleated "curtain" look of this shade.
And the next two have me thinkin' of Monet and his waterlilies....
I couldn't choose a favorite if I tried--and I did try. This lamp tried hard to win first place with its accompanying moth lamp screen; an accessory Tiffany created to help shield glare from early light bulbs. Isn't it darling?
If you're interested in seeing and reading more, please check out the rest of my Flickr set from our Biltmore trip.
And if you have some time between now and October 23, I encourage you to beat the Summer heat and visit Asheville, NC, with a stop at Biltmore Estate; The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass exhibit is included at no additional charge.
Warm thanks to my Biltmore friends for putting us up for the night at the fabulous Inn at Biltmore. Though they provided a gorgeous complimentary night's stay, I hope it's obvious my enthusiasm for this exhibit rests solely on it's own fabulosity!
| |
|
THANK YOU to everyone who chimed in in comments or on Twitter; I decided to go with the first picture based on your input and because the warm colors remind me of the cool season. :)
This week's challenge for Secret Agent Mama's "Picture it Outside of the Box" is "bokeh." Because I can't make a blasted decision, and because readers were helpful last time, I thought I'd solicit your opinions to help me choose.
Do you mind telling me your favorite below and why? Sometimes it really helps to see an image through your eyes!
I agree with Mishi--these ARE bokehlicious!
| |
|
It wasn't so much a question, repetition and tone suggested gentle insistence. I hesitated before responding because I know something about myself--
Sometimes I think...
I'm smarter than the directions....
or that my instinct is better...
or the directions couldn't really be right, could they?
I'll make a decision based on feelings or perception or, worse, arrogance (ouch).
"Y-e-e-e-s," I faltered, my inner Honesty Police betraying a lack of conviction.
"If you will trust me, if you'll do exactly what I tell you to do, you won't have any problems."
* * * * *
Ooooh, what am I talkin' about?? Please click to continue reading "Trust and obey ain't just an old church hymn" over at (in)courage to find out!
Secret Hint: I discovered a beautiful picture of faith while being schooled in a Land Rover Driving Experience at Biltmore!
| |
|
{Biltmore Estate, fourth in the series}
One of my favorite movie scenes takes place in the 1984 movie Splash with Tom Hanks and Darryl Hannah: his character, Allen Bauer, gives her character, Madison, a lusciously wrapped gift. Remember? Because she's a MERMAID and presumably never received a wrapped present before, she takes the bowed and bedazzled box, inspects it from every angle, then enthusiastically declares, "Thank you! It's beautiful!" without realizing there's a precious treasure tucked inside.
That's how I feel about The Biltmore House.
From the verdant, lush winding trail leading up to the Biltmore's entrance, to the meticulously manicured grounds and spectacular boundless gardens, to the home's exquisite exterior and magnificent architecture, you could spend hours examining the outside...and be satisfied.
Stunningly castlesque, the Biltmore House will steal your breath at first glance. Please click the photo below for a beautiful view of Biltmore borrowed from their media library--none of my pictures captured the entire home and it's a must-see! (I'm not sure why it's dark on my page....)
Aslan greets each guest.
The Biltmore House's French Renaissance-style details are intricate and gorgeous from every angle.
The home's exterior is artistic masterpiece; grotesques and carvings appoint doorways, entranceways, windows and more.
Grotesques, carved stone figures, are often confused with gargoyles; derived from the French word "gargouille" meaning "throat" or "gullet", and the word "gargariser" meaning "to gargle", a true gargoyle serves the function of water spout. Grotesques are purely decorative sculptures.
We learned there is only one known gargoyle on the Biltmore House though the uninformed might think otherwise. Here's a convincing impostor ~
But here's the real McCoy (located on the back terrace) ~
And the water spout that makes this grotesque an actual gargoyle ~
{Class dismissed.}
See what I mean? You could string together a thousand adjectives to describe the Biltmore House's amazingness without even stepping inside! But, oh, dear lovies, trust me...precious treasure awaits under all that gorgeous wrapping.
Next up? Some of my favorite photo captures from atop the roof at Biltmore! Please be sure to subscribe in a reader or by email so you won't miss a thing!
First in the series (Introduction and disclosure)
Second in the series (Asheville)
Third in the series (The Inn at Biltmore)
| |
|
{Biltmore, Tapas-style: Introduction}
If my word's not enough, seems e v e r y o n e has something good to say about Asheville, North Carolina ~
While my list is hardly comprehensive, it demonstrates the diverse appeal of this small city with big heart. George Vanderbilt was visionary in choosing its location for the Biltmore Estate.
It will serve you well to make Asheville's Convention and Visitor's Bureau your first travel stop; there, you'll gain great perspective from helpful staff and volunteers about the "what to dos" and "where to eats". I highly recommend a fun and informative Gray Line Trolley Tour to get you started--with unlimited "hop ons & offs" there's time to explore the nine stops along the way. Touring with Sarah was one of my favorite treats along the way...even though we got caught in the rain!
Prior to a visit, be sure to follow @Foodtopia (Sherida Buchanan) and @AshevilleTravel (Dodie Stephens) on Twitter. Both ladies will offer suggestions that will help you make the most of your visit.
Why do I really, REALLY like this city? It's a feast for the senses! Not only is it a place leading in delicious, local farm-to-table restaurant options, but the architecture, beautiful landscape, arts culture, and outdoor adventures beg my enthusiasm!
For the bargain shopper who wants to do everything--an investment in a "Go Blue Ridge Card" will allow you entry for the Trolley Tours, Biltmore Estate, museum tours, whitewater rafting, discounts and so...much...more!
Head's up if you're planning a trip to the area: I'll have TWO to giveaway at the end of this series! If you don't already, subscribe (for free) in a reader or by email so you'll be sure to learn details of the giveaway as soon as I post 'em!
Next up: The Inn at Biltmore
| |
|
When Biltmore staff invited a group of bloggers and journalists for a familiarization tour, it was calculated risk: they didn't require that we write about our experiences but, understanding bloggers and social media enthusiasts, it was a safe bet we'd have something to say. Twitter, Foursquare, Facebook, Flickr, smart phones and personal blogging have changed the way we travel; or at least the way we're able to communicate about it. Buh-bye boring slide shows, hellllooo real-time Twitpics!
There's a special place in my heart for the city of Asheville and the Biltmore Estate, begun on my honeymoon 23 years ago; I'm always eager for the chance to return (just one of the appeals of Kelby Carr's Type-A Mom Conference!).
Not because Biltmore has demanded or even expects it, but because I'm enchanted with this eclectic Southern destination, I'd like to share several aspects of my trip with you. To keep it manageable and hopefully interesting, I'll try to show more than I tell over the series of posts--assorted, miniature, delicious bites that leave you wanting more.
Like tapas.
~ Mmmm....enjoy!
My most sincere, heartfelt gratitude to Jean, Sherida and Kelby for their part in making this trip seamless, memorable and delightfully FULL!
| |
|
It was love at first sight and yet another reason j'adore the South--
Twenty-three years ago hours after we said "I do," my new husband whisked me through a romantic North Carolina tour, honeymooning at two beautiful destinations: Olde Edwards Inn in Highlands and Asheville's Grove Park Inn. Both were remarkable in their own way, but the latter proved my favorite by a hair's breadth in spite of...
...housekeeping ignoring my "Privacy" sign and walking in at a very **inopportune** moment that coulda put me in therapy for life! But I digress, and that's another story for another time...Or not.
Anyways...
*
*
*
I fell in love with Asheville immediately--"small city" in contrast to "large town," artsy, trendy, creative, edgy, adventurous. A colorful and rich history; diverse and gorgeous architecture; and scenic, rolling landscape that will steal your breath. No wonder George Vanderbilt was inspired "to create a relaxed country estate" here, a nice little 250-room love shack French château known as Biltmore Estate.
My jaw dropped when Tad and I first toured the Biltmore all those years ago--it's a princess's castle and you can almost see Repunzel letting down her hair. I've had occasion to return since then, and e.v.e.r.y. visit leaves me astonished and impressed by the home's architecture, furnishings, appointment detail...and enormity. Four acres of floor space, 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces.
I have to look past the wretched excess and appreciate the Estate as historical masterpiece and consider the countless stories beyond its facade. Those are what I'm most drawn to.
A few month's ago I was contacted by Biltmore staff to join a group of others for a "blogger familiarization tour". By immersing us in all things Biltmore, their hope was for us to chat about our experience in the digital spaces we occupy and to introduce new audiences to Biltmore.
Because of my existing impressions and affections for this place, how could I say no? I'm thrilled to be trusted with sharing my thoughts about the Biltmore Estate and Asheville, and rather than write another longish post, I'm going to break it up over the next few weeks in a Biltmore series.
I hope you'll visit along! If you haven't already, please subscribe in a reader or via email. I have a fun giveaway planned with my next post, so stay tuned! :)
{Deep gratitude to Biltmore Estate for their generosity in hosting this trip including meals, lodging at the beautiful Biltmore Inn, activities and travel! Though they didn't require we write about our experience, it was a smart, calculated risk! They KNOW bloggers will show and tell!}
| |
|
