North Carolina = beautiful

Lake Susan in Montreat

Welcome!

View from our table at the Grove Park Inn patio

Famous fireplace at the Grove Park Inn

Yesterday we toured Chef Sarah's Montreat and then had lunch in nearby Black
Mountain ~ a very good day before one of the best dinners EVER at the Grove
Park Inn in Asheville. An outside table, perfect steak and salad. We celebrated
Eddie's birthday in style. This hotel was built in 1913, check out the huge
stones around the gigantic fireplace in the main lobby.  Back to Roswell today
and on to Atlanta tomorrow. The weather is cooling. Fall?

3 mile Biltmore walk

cozy home

great gargoyles abound

elegant stairwell

kitchen with only copper to cook in

Two fabulous tours yesterday and LOTS of walking. I recommend this visit
to everyone. Built in the 1920's, the Vanderbilts lived a life of luxury in the
largest private home in America. My knees are barking today, but it was
worth it. A nice late lunch in the Stable Cafe there and then a trip to
downtown Asheville last night which I loved. I am getting caught up on
my need to be outside for coffee and meals. Almost.

on the road all Sunday

Dahlonega

Wolf Mountain winery and restaurant

The Appalachian Trail

Such beautiful country and since we were in no hurry we stopped often.
Worst latte of my life in Dahlonega, but that's ok. Late dinner at Mo's
or Zo's Kitchen here in Asheville where we are staying at the Biltmore
Residences. We each have our own bedroom AND bathroom and
I'm now sitting in the front room with the patio door open, checking
the sky. Good weather so far! This luxury place is about $200 a night.
Not missing California at this moment. (But my cat, always.) I texted
Chef Sarah yesterday and there were no wineries when she was
growing up in this area ~ now there are quite a few. Learned about
Kadzo or Cadzo plant and I will google it. Tired this morning with
busy tourist day ahead. Eddie brought his guitar and Keurig.

walking, talking, coffee, dinner

Roswell downtown 

Adele's on Canton Cajun Restaurant

Chattahoochee River

Yes, it is beautiful here ~ so lush and green. No worries ever about droughts
or overcrowded conditions. Yesterday we walked in the morning and that
was just what I needed ~ a four mile up and down hike. Then to an early
dinner in downtown Roswell (mussels for me, jambalaya for Eddie) sitting
on a quiet outdoor patio. Everyone is so very friendly. Came home to do
laundry, have some sleepy tea and guitar music outside on Eddie's porch
and then early to bed for me. Best news? I slept beautifully.

thunder, lightning, insomnia

Atlanta ~ driving from airport

one of the lakes in Roswell

I have my own apartment here at Eddie's in Roswell. Alas, the electricity
was down last night for hours so we moved around slowly with candles
and flashlights. Roswell is bigger than I expected, a bustling little
city, or so it seems. This morning I'm out on the front porch looking
into a forest and waiting for the deer to wander by. The thunder storm
was violent and amazing. There will be more...

P. S. All smooth at SFO and on the Delta flight. Huge, well-organized
Atlanta airport.

hot here, hot there

I didn't stay past the 5th inning yesterday, yikes ~ so warm. I will call
Lyft in a moment to go to the airport and catch my flight to Atlanta.
I hope Delta can maneuver around the closed SFO runway. Ommmmm.

packing and chatting

Tomorrow I go to Atlanta ~ too soon after Ashland I now realize. Annabelle
hasn't signed off on this and she cares not one whit that this blouse was
freshly laundered and ironed and ready to be folded neatly. Neti invited me
for an early dinner and this is the view from her kitchen ~ you can see the
little homes of Twin Peaks through the big tree in her backyard.

We know Noe Valley

My gym is in Noe Valley and I hauled ass over there yesterday and then
met a friend for coffee. I didn't know about this new event in the so-called
Town Square but I will return for (ahem) fun and games. Small town,
big city, good vibes.

a poetic Tuesday

Southern Cone

Carmen Giménez Smith

I wept with my grandmother when Reaganwas shot because that's what she wanted.At night, she'd tell me about a city builtby Evita for children in Buenos Aires, the cityof her first exile. Children went aboutmunicipal duties in the small post officeand mini city hall to learn to be good citizens.In Argentina she sold bread puddingand gave French and English lessons from herhome for money to buy shoes. She promisedwe'd go someday, but we never did. She'd sayPeruvians were gossipy, Argentinians snobbish, butChileans were above reproach. A little bit migrant,a little bit food insecurity, she was the brass bustof JFK on her altar, the holy card of Saint Anthonyon her TV. She was her green card and the ebony crossabove her bed. The lilted yes when she answeredthe phone, and the song she liked to hum about bellsand God that ended tirin-tin-tin-tirin-tin-tan: milesand ages away from her story, she sang it.

writers gather in Napa once again

Chef Sarah took a trip to Alabama to take a course in biscuit making and
we all benefitted yesterday. Lots of lovely food and laughter and good words
and warm friendship. Thanks again to Doug and Barb for driving to/fro
Napa and not once did we get lost this time!

offices old and new

Linda's new office

Mary Ann's old office

So nice to be home, so very/very nice. Annabelle is beside herself as
she tries to trip me and cuddle and play mouse. Linda in ABQ has been
a wonderful friend and writing partner this week. Note her brand new
office and then you will see her poster art work on the wall of my old
and always cluttered office. I use my MsMacBook Air all over the
house now, but when I was a married woman I loved having this
messy little room of my own.  I needed it then and I guess I still do.

a quick post before take-off

Intermission Alice in Wonderland

The small Thomas Theatre yesterday

Dinner at Greenleaf ~ tradition

I joined the farewell dinner at Greenleaf last night and let my inner hermit
have a nap. Two great plays yesterday ~ both small but powerful. How to
Catch a Creation in the afternoon and Cambodian Rock Band at night.
Lots to think about in both and excellent productions. This was a record,
six plays in four days. We leave in about an hour for the long drive home.
Looking forward to my own bed and my very special Annabelle.

the beauty of Ashland

the creek

the sunset

Many memories await me here, Lithia Park amongst the best. The creek
was full after a good rainy season and I spent a quiet morning with my
book here yesterday. Then to Hairspray (great fun!), a light dinner and
I bought a solo ticket for $30 for Indecent last night. And two more
plays today, home early tomorrow. Ready.

day two, two plays

Aqua 

outside the theater

inside the theater

The matinee was Mother Road, very good except for too many endings.
Then last night was Alice in Wonderland in the outdoor theater and that
was fun, especially for the grand nephews from Hawaii. During the night
there were thunder storms (!) but it is clear and beautiful this morning.
It was the first time ever that I was in the outdoor theater without even
a sweater. My inner hermit appeared and I snuck away for a lovely early
dinner in the patio at Aqua. Shhhhhh.

Good morning, Ashland

dinner by the Creek last night

morning view from my motel room

Feeling better after a pretty good sleep. We have two plays today: Mother 
Road and Alice in Wonderland. It's good to be away so I can appreciate
my normal home routine with a cat named Annabelle. In the photo above
you meet Carlini's niece and his two grand nephews from Hawaii. That
is John in the blue shirt, married to Barbara, another Unity minister. The
weather is delightful and the morning coffee strong. All is well.

Ashland still rocks

adorable girl cat

Lake Shasta from the car window

From the rest area ~ well done

The long drive was easier because we three humans had to fuss over Miss
Puma who napped nicely. I just had a quiet solo walk around town after
dinner with Carlini's relatives and friends. There were nine of us. I am
better this year, for sure, last year was a rough trip filled with grief. But
he and I had some delightful times in Ashland. Theater starts tomorrow!

packing up day

Tomorrow we head to Ashland to see five plays and I look forward to a
change of scene and some walking in that beautiful little town. There
are a bunch of us this year ~ Carlini's friends and relatives, but he and
Bob and I will have tomorrow to drive together and bicker a bit on the
drive from Walnut Creek to Ashland. Tradition.

oh, what a day...

It was Ginger's birthday and what better place than Crissy Field? We
walked and talked, stopped for lattes and a sweet at the Warming Hut
and appreciated our city once again.

two books for mystery lovers

I had to put The Chain down because it was just too scary, but a bright
and innovative plot. A reviewer called it, "Jaws for parents," and even
though I'm not a real parent, the shark scare took hold. Righteous is
great, the #2 in a series by Joe Ide.

a movie of a play

Three great actors inside a glass box filled with banker's boxes inside a
three act play in a movie. The Lehman Trilogy is a National Theatre
Live production now at a movie house in Berkeley. Fascinating study of
the .brothers who come here from Bavaria to sell clothes to the poor people
of Alabama. Thanks to the Great Plotniks who arranged this unusual
experience. Home very late, but that's ok. Worth it!