Asheville

Visiting Eric's parents in Asheville, NC

We saw some black bears outside the houseMore bear video


Helping grandma make breadsticksAt Shindig on the Green, a bluegrass style festival held regularly in Asheville.


CloggersPlaying with Conrad


At the Biltmore HousePlaying with the marble track


Kenny learned to pump his feet on the swing!Swimming in the pool


The view has been greatly improved at the Vasilik house because some trees were cut downEric's mother Ann had this marble track when she was a little girl


Picking tomatoes with GrandmaGot quite the haul


Apples with GrandpaKenny with an insect


At a local playgroundWearing Grandma's sunglasses


Kenny got to feed the fishesWe went on a nature walk at the NC Arboretum, and saw lots of different mushrooms










A tour group came by, on Segways


There was lots of Mica - a very shiny, fragile rockAt the greenhouse


They had some beautiful examples of bonsaiCarnivorous plant


Swimming at the local pool


Eating some home grown applesVisiting Oma and cousin Conrad in Charlotte




Eating lunch at Oma's houseAnd now time for desert




Bojangles is a fried chicken restaurant chain in the south. This particular location is where I had my first real job.


At Earthhaven, the land co-op where my brother lives


This house at Earthhaven looks pretty well taken care of


This is the house my brother first builtThe "hut condo". Looking at the braces, looks like they have some problems with stability.


Tom, me, and KennyThis is the council hall. School was in session when we went by, so we couldn't go in.


The root cellar


Tom built the railing on this bridge, which leads to the campground. We ate lunch at the picnic tables at the campground.At Montreat, a christian community near Black Mountain that has a great playground


We did a morning trip to Biltmore House with Brian.


We did the rooftop tour, which allowed us access to some of the balconies and other rooftop areas


This gargoyle is supposedly carved in the image of George Vanderbuilt, who had this mansion built.




It's certainly a peaceful setting. I'd like to have a backyard like this.


Now the Vanderbilt family can't afford to live in the mansion anymore, so they live out back in this RV. (just kidding!)


Lots of beautiful old treesThe gardens




We got permission from some neighbors to pick some of their grapes


Walking around downtown Asheville. I think we have a picture from this same location, but years ago.


Meanwhile, Kenny went with his grandparents to a children's science museum.I found a praying mantis on the bushes next to the driveway


At Beaver LakeAt the Nature Center






Great photo op at the tractor


We saw some black bears outside Eric's parents home in Asheville - a mother bear with three cubs


Helping grandma make breadsticks


Wearing grandmpa's shoesAt Shindig on the Green




At Montreat - having fun in the streamA big hunk of quartz


Checking the bridge for trollsWe found a crawdad in the water