Arbor House News and Views

Fall is here ready or not.  Looks like a good morning to have the first fire in the dining room fireplace to enjoy with breakfast this morning.  Yesterday I made home made apple butter to go on the hot biscuits this morning.  We are using the last of the peaches and will not see them again until next spring. But we have several varities of apples from the local Henderson Apple farms and lots of recipes to use them.
Looking forward to making these.
Apple Butter Bars.
1/2 cup butter, 1 and 1/2 cups all- purpose flour, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup white sugar,
1 egg and 3/4 cup apple butter, 1/2 t baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice, 1 cup raisins, 1 cup confectionser's sugar, 1/4 t vanilla extract and 2 T milk.
Directions:
Preheat over to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9x2 inch baking pan.
Beat butter or margarine until creamy. Add half of the flour, the brown sugar ,white sugar, egg, apple
butter, baking soda  and apple pie spice. Beat together until well blended. Beat in remaining flour and stir in raisins. Spread in prepared baking pan.
Bake for 20 -25 minutes or till toothpick in center comes out clean. Cool in pan or wire rack. Drizzle with icing* . Cut into bars.
* To make icing. Mix 1 cup of confectionser's sugar, 1/4 t vanilla and 1-2 tablespoons milk.
Mix to drizzling consistency.
Enjoy.

I do believe that  honk if you like fall was written on the water at Lake Tomahawk this morning because the travelling Canada geese were all honking like crazy.  There was a little nip in the air this morning when I took a lap around the lake and people are starting to put on that little jacket for their morning stroll. Looking forward to some cooler weather, baked apples in the mornings and a wood fire roaring in the dining room. Come join us for the fall leaf show it's suppose to be great this year.

Make you plans to come stay at Arbor House and go see the wonderful Christmas trees and decorations at the Biltmore house.  Each year I am amazed at how beautiful it is and the large tree in the dining room has a different theme.   We have partners tickets here at Arbor House at a good price for you and you can add on the extra price to attend the candle light tour at night if you want.  If you want something to put you in the holiday spirit this will get you going.

The good rains we have had cleared up the lake and it looks like a mirror reflection of the trees and walker with his dog.  I wanted to be out walking this morning but had to just be content to take a few pictures off the balcony while the guest had breakfast.  Some of them did enjoy a walk around the lake this morning to build up an appetite for " Granola Blues" , blueberry granola pancakes .  The path around the lake is a great flat walking area and only .55 miles around the lake.  Everywhere you look you can see the mountain tops or just enjoy the ducks playing in the water.

In the Sunday paper this morning there was a list of upcoming fall events in the Asheville area. Come check them out.
"Tiffany at Biltmore, Biltmore Estate, through Oct. 23"   We have tickets here at Arbor House for partners price , savings over the door price.

"Salute to F.Scott Fizgerald weekend, The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa. Sept 23- 25th"

Oktoberfest, Downtown Asheville. Oct. 8th

Lake Eden Arts Festival, Black Mountain Oct 20- 23

The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, Asheville Civic Center  Oct 20 -23

Moogfest, Downtown Asheville, Oct 28- 30th

River Arts District Studio Stroll , River Arts District. Nov 12 -13

For more infromation on these evens, vist wwwexploreasheville.com

According to the Black Mountain News this report gives hope to a pretty fall here in the mountains.
" Due to weather conditions over the spring and summer months. Kathy Mathews, Western Carolina Univerisity's fall foliage forecaster, predicts an "excellent" fall color show.

We have had another busy summer and looking forward to fall.  Wish I had a "in"  to let everyone know when peak season will be best to veiw the leaves but no such luck.  It is nice that in the fall there is color either up high on the mountains or where we live.  We get to enjoy the color for months that way.

What our guests are saying:

"HEI!
I just wanted to say that our stay has been wonderful. We could not ask  for anything more. Thank you so much for your wonderful hospitality."

Guests from Norway

" This was our first stay in a "new" B&B and we loved it! Everything was designed to enhance the guests enjoyment from the site location to the design of the house, gardens, and interiors. You have been very gracious hosts and we will return and also recommend you to friends."
Knoxville , TN

Took a long walk around the lake and downtown this morning and the breeze was so wonderful. It has been a long hot summer and the breeze was a reminder of cooler days to come. I especially like walking in the early morning and enjoy  watching the sun coming up turning everything a light gold and the clouds have a pink tinge color reflecting the suns rays.
 The garden is putting on the yellow, gold , red and purple show right now. We had a couple good rains this week and the garden is perking up.  I hate it when everything is hot and dry and just gives up.  I can't water enough to make it look like it does after a good soaking rain.

" Dear Carolyn and Dave,
What a wonderful place to spend our anniversary weekend! The lake, your beautiful gardens, the peace and tranquility of the house and the then there was the treat of seeing Natalie! Your breakfast and your company are the final touch. Thank you for sharing your lovely home.
We'll see you again."
North Carolina

We are looking forward to some cooler temps this weekend and next week.  All the summer flowers are starting to wilt and everyone wants it to rain.  It's hard to keep up with the watering in the flower gardens. A good soaking rain would really help.
This summer has been the best one since we have started the inn 7 years ago.  Maybe all the good word of mouth and repeats are paying off. Plus if you check out the pictures on the web site all the pictures of the gardens , house and surrounding lake and mountains.

Dave and Carolyn,
We really enjoyed our 3 nights at Arbor House. It was a perfect getaway for us.The breakfast , the beautiful home and gardens,the spa shower, it all is a testimony to your creativity and hospitality.
We're glad we chose your B&B and for our stay in Black Mountain.

Columbia, SC

It is amazing the garden is still blooming and looking good. We have had a hot week, not to complain since we are cooler than many places in the US.   This morning I went out and picked a beautiful bunch of flowers in the fog and they will be pretty in the house for almost a week.  I try to pick them before the sun gets to them and draws out all the moisture.
One of our guest is going to do a 65 mile bike ride tomorrow for about 8 hours.  It is part mountain trail and road. There must be 500 bikers in town getting ready for the ride tomorrow that starts down in Old Fort.  I have hiked the mountain trail they will be riding and no way would I get on a bike for that trail up or down.  More power to them!  Give me a flat rails to trails bike path anyday and I can ride forever. Forget these mountain hills and rough trails.

I will do things to help guests if they are on special diets or have special food needs.  This morning I went to the garden and gathered some basil to add to my eggs dish for a guest.  I boild eggs for him and then put slices of ham in the broiled topped with swiss cheese. When it had melted I rolled up the ham and cheese and topped it with the sliced boiled eggs that I had heated in melted butter and basil. This was all topped with a rich butter lemon sauce.  As you can guess he was on a no /low card diet.
He said it was the best breakfast he had EVER eaten in his life.  Well done!!!!!

I love the color that annuals bring to the garden.  They tend to be a little needy always wanting water and deadheading but the beauty of the flowers makes it all worth while.  We enjoyed the cooler weather this past week and know that we will be heading to some higher temps next week.  It's easy to find cool temps by going up the mountains near MT. Mitchell.  When I walk the path around the lake I can hear the children enjoying the cool water at the swimming pool.  It has gotten lots of use this summer.

Blueberry picking time and the bushes are loaded in my neighbors garden.  I trade him blueberry pancakes and French toast for breakfast for the berries.  We are still enjoying all the good NC peaches in season and all the fresh melons.  Breakfast is very colorful and healthy around here.

What our guests are saying,
" Thank you so much for such a lovely weekend! Next time we visit , our baby girl will be born! Your home in wonderful and your hospitality incredible. Thank you."
NC

" What a great place for a sister retreat! Deb and I had a wonderful time in your lovely home. We will be back another time with our husbands. Thank you for your hospitality"
TN and SC

We have been enjoying some cooler temps the past couple days but I have a feeling it is going to warm up again this next week.  Today the rim hike for the museum had to be cancelled due to fog and slippery conditions  on steep rocks.  I hiked the hike last year but felt sorry for all the hikers looking forward to the day hike today.  We will reschedule it for another Saturday.  The B&B is staying full for the month of July with just a couple of days with only a room or two to rent .  July and Oct. are our peak months and we enjoy all the guests here  now to enjoy the gardens in full bloom.

***** Five Stars, Thanks for our first adventure at a B&B. We hope to be back to see you again someday.

It's hot outside but sitting on the front porch in the shade and catching a breeze is very enjoyable. The potted plants have gotten a little spoiled and want a little water everyday or else they wilt.
Think I will head up to MT. Mitchelle for a hike , it's always cooler up there and the trails will be pine scented and green.  The turks caps lillies will be in bloom along the parkway , like these I have in my garden.

July 2nd,
Our second week's stay here- we hope to return every year! Thank you for your gracious home and hospitality, for accomodation our vegetarian diet with scrumptous delectable breakfasts, for the comfy bed, the artwork , spacious bathrooom, the CD and DVD player , thick bathrobes , charming decor , spectucular location, a veritable Shangri-la! Carolyn , you are a true artist and a domestic goddess, and MASTERful gardener. Many blessings to you, Carolyn and Dave!

Guests from Virginia

This morning our guests wanted to eat out in the cool foggy mist. At 6 am the foggy was so thick that it was hard to see across the lake.  I enjoy walk around the lake and enjoy the quiet and muffled sounds that the fog carries.  Yesterday we had a rather large thunderstorm with lots of rain so the morning flowers from the garden were fresh.

It must be summer, it hot and humid and we need some rain.  I just took a lake around the lake and you could smell the backyard burgers and hear the laughter of people gathering for a picnic.  The town of Black Mountain is having a street dance, games and music tonight before the fireworks start  at 9:30.
It's nice to be able to walk down town to see the fireworks and not have to drive the car and find a place to park. Hope you have a safe and fun holiday.

Happy 4th of July weekend to you.  Hope you have a good time with family and friends and a safe journey if you are on the road.
Our little town of Black Mountain will be celebrating with a parade , street dance and fireworks tomorrow night.  For the brave there will be hike sponsored by the museum that will hike up a mountain to view the fireworks from the mountain top and hike back down with flash lights at 11 pm.  It is an annual hike and anyone can pay a small fee to join the fun for a good cause.

If you are into hiking and like the thrill of walking and taking in views the Blueridge Mountains calls to you.  We are so lucky to have the park in our backyard and can hop on the Blueridge Parkway within minutes.  The mountain to sea trail runs along the parkway and they are many other trails along the mile markers as you travel the parkway. We have maps that detail the trails and shows the elevations.
If you just want to drive you car up to MT. Mitchelle you can get the same views without hiking. Somehow it like just desserts, when you hike and work up a sweat to climb up the hills the end result is wonderful.

One of the favorite things our guests like to do is walk the path around Lake Tomahawk (.55 miles)
and look at all the ducks.  It is so easy to walk down our garden path and go through the gate down to the path.  The path goes by the tennis courts and you can look up to the mountains that surround our valley. The Blue Ridge Parkway is only minutes from our B&B and you can go either north to MT. Mitchell
or south to Mt. Pisgah.
Come check out the ducks but please don't feed them bread. They are starting to learn to live without the stuff humans like to throw at them and eat grass and bugs like nature intended.

There is something magical about sitting out on the deck in the evening feeling the cool breeze blowing across and looking out on the lake watching the sunset. The evening I took this picture there had been a storm that afternoon and the clouds were low and bouncing off the pretty colors. The colors of the Blue Ridge Parkway were soft purples and yellows and I thought it doesn't get much better than this.
Come check it out.

Working is the garden has it's payoffs and just looking at these flowers makes it worthwhile.
I worked in the garden yesterday half the day dividing plants and putting out lots of new annuals.
The flowers stay pretty for months and something is always blooming in the gardens until frost.
We are enjoying some nice cool evening and morning.  Today I did a 7 mile bike  loop around town and enjoyed the cool breeze.  The town of Black Mountain is building more greenways to ride and walk and it is so nice not to compete with the cars for the road.  I will be happy when the dream trail is build from Black Mountain to Asheville about 15 miles of paved trails by the Swannanoa River . 
Epic Bikes has rental bikes in Asheville and there is a good bike trail down the old 70 Road which is now a park way.  I love to ride down it but have not mastered coming back up the mountain.  I have someone pick me up at the bottom .

It is such a joy to walk out in the garden in the early mist and pick flowers to bring inside so everyone can see and enjoy them.  With the good rains we have been having the flowers are big and pretty this year. I just bought 4 flats of annuals that need to go in the ground today.  They will bloom and stay pretty until frost and that a long way away since summer doesn't start until next week.
The first park concert was fun last night and well attended. It starts at 6 and ends at 9 pm.  As I was walking home on the path around the lake I saw Dr. Wilson with a crowd of people watching the evening primroses opening with lots of blooms to entain the viewers.

The fountain on Lake Tomahawk provides such peaceful sounds and we enjoy it when we sit up on the deck and balacony looking over the lake.
Starting this Thursday the first of eight free Thursday night concerts kicks off the season for the parks department entertainment around the lake.  The Swayback Sisters will sing tonight and The Red Radish will cater food for the evening.  We have lawn chairs available for our guests to take  and sit on the lawn to enjoy the event.  It's a great evening to sit outside , enjoy the music and eat dinner.  If you get tired of sitting the lake has a half mile path that circles the lake and you can take a stroll to enjoy the gardens and watch the ducks.  It a very Black Mountain thing to do !

It's starting to look a  lot like summer in the garden . With some nice rains the flowers are starting to grow and the grasses are looking pretty.  I have cut flowers in vases all over the house and enjoying looking at them inside as well as outside.

It took 7 years but this past week I finished the last untamed patch of garden in the front yard.  Someone helped me pull all the weeds and put down a good mulch cover.  It looks great.

Exciting times to be had in Black Mountain are going down to the lake to watch the Evening Blooming Primroses open at 9 PM.  The blooms start to wiggle and then open quickly . People stand around the bed looking as hundreds of blooms start to unfurl and watch and wait for them to open. Dr. Wilson likes to tell the on lookers about the history of the plants and how they have a sweet scent to attract the night moth.  The season of the blooms starts early June and peaks around July 4th.   Dr. Wilson usually has some seeds left over from the year past to share with people and a sheet of planting instructions.
The Friends of Lake Tomahawk earned money to have a rock wall built behind the flower bed and people can sit on it to watch the flowers open.

WOW,
Wonderful oh wonderful! Love the Lookout room, love the view ... and most declicious breakfasts . I/we had the best biscuits ever - I mean ever! Thank you
NY

P.S. We'll see you again soon.

"Dear Carolyn and Dave,
What a lovely home, B&B, and gardens! I'm so glad my son and wife had been here and picked it again for the graduation of my grandaughter . My other son and his wife hve commented on how lovely it is and how gracious you floks are.  What delicious breakfasts, I'll ditto all the above. Thanks.

PA

What our guests are saying,
"Dear Carolyn and Dave,
On the occasion of our daughter's graduation from Warren Wilson College we considered ourselves so lucky to have found this lovely " second home." Our only regret is that we did not discover you sooner! Your gracious hospitality, your lovely settting and beautiful gardens, the scrumptious breakfast will all be a part of our memory of the momentous occasion.
With many thanks and all good wishes."

Williamstown, MA

Love this cool misty morning with the clouds hanging over the mountains.  Just went down to the town square and enjoyed all the people in town shopping at the plant fair and going to the local tail gate farmers market.  Friends visting friends, stopping for coffee and going in and out of the shops.  Love this small town.

Spring is one of my favorite seasons.  There is such promise with every little plant I put in the garden that it will grow big and have lots of pretty blooms.  Gardening gives so much joy to the gardener and to the people who view it.  Come take a stroll in my garden and smell the roses.

Today we had a taste of summer time temps in the high 80's. I am still enjoying all the spring flowers and don't want them to go away quickly.  The peonies are just beautiful this year , I especially like the old fashioned white ones a friend gave to me from her grandmother's house here in Black Mountain.  No telling how old the plant was that we took rootings .

What a great way to start your honeymoon by staying in the Lookout Room. It is a great get away for a night or for several days.   Breakfast is served up on the private balcony as you look over the lake up to the Blue Ridge Mountains or in your room as you relax in the comfortable white robes .
Also a great place to get engaged , we are happy to help get flowers  etc to make the day all the more special.

Come experience spring in the mountains.  This year we have had plenty of rain and all the flowers and shubs are in full bloom.  We now offer tickets to Biltmore for purchase so you can just get your tickets here at Arbor House. 

Dear Carolyn and Dave,
Thanks so much for your hospitality. I can't tell you how much we needed some time away together.
The house is beautiful and your recommendations on places to eat were spot on! We will definitely be back . Next time I won't plan on going some crazy race up Mt. Mitchell.

PS.  She came is 4th over all for the women racers!

The Swannanao Valley Museum offered a Saturday hike today  to a local waterfall less than 15 minutes for our B&B.  You can get to the lower falls hiking in a trail by a creek for almost a mile and if you are up to a climp you can go to the upper falls.   In the spring the falls are large due to all the snow melt and rain fall. 
Do the Catawba falls in the morning and then head to Andrews Gyser to see the local attraction. A great place to have a picnic and watch the trains as they struggle to go either up or down the mountain. After a good  lunch then you can hike up old highway 70 with is now a hiking, biking lane  or choose a mountain trail Kitsumma Trail [ an old Indian trail on a ridge] which is a mountain bike trail / hiking trail.   If you don't want to bring you mountain or road bike Epic Bikes in Black Mountain rents bikes.

Any of the three could be done alone and then head back to Black Mountain for lunch and check out the shops.  Some new shops , eateries and an ale house have opened.  Still have energy left for the evening check out some local music in Black Mountain.
Not sure about hiking alone, check with me and I can hook you with one of the many hiking groups and I
maps and plenty of suggestions of safe trail hiking near us.

With all the rains we have been having the spring flowers are just waiting for a little sunshine so they can bloom.  Hopefully the Biltmore flowers will be right on cue and my guests can enjoy a day at the park.  Arbor House will be offering a free ticket through May and another ticket can be bought at my price. 
The gardens here are Arbor House and getting a face lift.  I have someone come in , a first, to help me do spring clean up and to do a new set of steps leading down to the garden and the path around the lake.
We put in the small stepping stones seven years ago and now need something a little bigger. Will post a before and after picture.

Oh boy,  it's March already and the blog has sat idle most of the winter.  Glad to say I'm back.
We have lot of good news.  A new grand daughter has arrived and the snow has melted.
This spring we are offering a special stay two nights at regular price and receive a Biltmore ticket for free.  You can purchase another ticket from us at our price.  Call to check on available dates and go to the Biltmore.com web site to see about the spring flowering blooming dates.  Our special will last through the month of May. 
Hope to see you soon.